Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
64
Important Visa Information
Passengers who participate in St. Petersburg shore excursions or arrange for pri-
vate transportation through the ship's shore-excursions desk do not need to
obtain a visa.
Those who wish to go ashore on their own, however, do have to obtain a tour-
ist visa prior to departure. To receive a Russian visa, you must have a valid pass-
port that remains valid at least 30 days past the last day of the cruise. For more
information on obtaining a visa, see “Entry Requirements,” earlier in this chapter.
5
MONEY & COSTS
Though capitalism has brought Russia
more in line with the economies of the
West, money matters continue to vex visi-
tors. Red caviar, symphony tickets, and
haircuts can barely dent your wallet; rub-
bery pizza and roach-ridden hotels can
drain it. Russia can be quite cheap, though
visitors on escorted tours may not notice,
as accommodations are often overpriced
and tour operators charge a premium.
Cash is by far the most popular form of
payment among Russians, but credit cards
are increasingly accepted. ATMs are
widely available in Moscow and St. Peters-
burg and are generally reliable.The Value
of the Ruble vs. Other Popular Currencies
3
Ruble
US$
Can$
UK£
Euro (€)
Aus$
NZ$
1
3¢
C3¢
£.02
€.02
A$.04
NZ$.05
Frommer's lists prices in the local cur-
rency. The currency conversions quoted
above were correct at press time. However,
rates fluctuate, so before departing consult
a currency exchange website such as
www.
oanda.com/convert/classic
to check up-
to-the-minute rates.
euros. If you're not queasy about carrying
cash from home, change it at the currency
exchange booths found at all airports,
hotels, and most street corners. Exchange
booths in town offer more competitive
rates than do hotels and airports and do
not charge commissions, though most buy
only U.S. dollars and euros. Be sure to
have crisp, new bills, as exchange booths
often refuse well-worn notes or those
printed pre-1995. Note that prices listed
on menus and in shops are often in dollars
or euros, though only rubles are accepted
as payment. This is a remnant of the
1990s, when the ruble's value plunged
daily. For an explanation of the “monetary
units” used on some price lists, see the
“Currency Confusion” box on p. 96.
Most prices listed in this topic are in
rubles. Some are listed in U.S. dollars or
euros, following Russian hotel and restau-
rant practice.
CURRENCY
Russia's
ruble
is still making the transition
to becoming a truly “hard” currency,
which means very few banks abroad will
sell you rubles (in cash or traveler's checks)
before you leave home or buy them back
from you when you return. The U.S. dol-
lar was the de facto second currency in the
1990s as the ruble lost all credibility
among Russians. In recent years the ruble
has remained quite stable, even stronger
than the dollar, and inflation has calmed
down considerably, though Russians still
prefer to keep their savings in dollars or
